Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will receive the coveted “Fighter of the Year” award otherwise known as the Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
Donaire, the reigning WBO superbantamweight champion, is the second Filipino to receive the prestigious award after Manny Pacquiao who bagged the BWAA Fighter of the Year award thrice in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Donaire’s rivals for this award include Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero of the U.S., Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and another Pinoy, Brian Viloria.
The 30-year-old Donaire (31W-1L, 20 KOs) had four notable wins in 2012 against Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. of Puerto Rico(SD12), Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa (UD12), Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan (TKO 9) and Jorge Arce of Mexico ( KO 3).
The BWAA Fighter of the Year Awards started in 1938 and was renamed after boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson, who won Fighter of the Year in 1950.
This marks the fourth time in the last seven years that a Filipino boxer has been honored by boxing journalists in the United States.
Last year’s winner was American WBA/WBC super middleweight Andre Ward. Other past winners of this award include legends like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield.
Donaire’s trainer Robert Garcia was also recognized as winner of the “Trainer of the Year” accolade. The BWAA’s 2012 awards banquet will be held in New York this spring at a venue and date to be announced.